17 February 2011

Emergency Taxicab Legislation

I was checking to see if any legislation had made it all the way through both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and had been signed by the governor. Only one bill has made it all the way through:

[H 1426]
Approved February 4, 2011

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-2059.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-2059.1. Roof signs and markings for taxicabs.

Every motor vehicle operating in the Commonwealth as a taxicab or performing a taxicab service shall bear a roof sign and markings (i) the word or words "taxicab," "taxi," or "cab," permanently affixed to its exterior, in letters at least three inches in height identifying, and (ii) a roof sign. Such markings and roof sign, taken together, shall clearly reflect that the motor vehicle is operating as a taxicab or performing a taxicab service.

2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.

This is a change from

§ 46.2-2059.1. Roof signs and markings for taxicabs.

Every motor vehicle operating in the Commonwealth as a taxicab or performing a taxicab service shall bear a roof sign and markings, permanently affixed to its exterior, in letters at least three inches in height identifying the vehicle as a taxicab.

Okay, I don't really have any problems with the legislation. All it really does is clarify the statute.

However, I do have to wonder why this was so important that it was rushed through the process and is such a state of emergency that it immediately went into force upon passage (as opposed to 01 July when all the laws about drugs and violence will go into affect). Were signs on the top of cabs too high and flying off as they drove? Were officers writing tickets every 3 mintues because cabs weren't following this exactly? Por que?

Disclaimer

In case anyone out there needs this warning: This ain't legal advice. Everything in the blog is off the cuff and no one goes back and reads all the cases and statutes before blogging. The law may have changed; cases misread and misunderstood two years ago can still lead to a clinging misperception. Courts in your county, city, or State probably don't operate as described herein. Feel free to be inspired, but YOU MUST ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH OR HIRE A COMPETENT ATTORNEY TO DO SO because I haven't.